In my first week of AP Literature and Composition I learned quite a lot despite the week only containing 4 days. In the beginning of the week we discussed the part technology was going to play in our learning journey this year. Technology simplifies the task of ensuring that everyone in the class has a voice. We participated in two forums this week. The forums were a new experience for me; i usually take solace in knowing that my teacher is the only person who will read my writing or thoughts. The forums forced me to own up to my opinions and be brave enough to share them with the entire class. The first forum took place while watching the documentary "Shaped by Writing: The Freshman Experience." I found the film very interesting because it showed the amount of writing required in college and how important writing skills are no matter what direction your life takes. We also talked about how much reading and writing are required for this class, it is a college level course and will be a step up from our previous English classes. The next forum was asking the question: What is Literature? Again, this assignment forced me to offer up my thoughts knowing that anyone could see them and form judgments based on them. I decided that the main difference in Literature and commercial fiction is the motive the author has for writing. Authors of Literature strive to use their writing to make a change. This week I learned how putting myself in a vulnerable situation can actually lead to a sort of epiphany. If the class was to just have discussed "What is Literature?" I probably wouldn't have spoken up and I wouldn't have been forced to think for myself and discover that I actually have an answer to the question. This discussion ties into the earlier portion of the class because in both situations we were discussing writing and its importance. Authors of any kind must write all the time, practice and exercise their creative muscle. On Friday we took a few minutes to indulge in some purely creative writing. Although we were using paper and a pencil our "whip around" still pushed every class member to share something with the group. Everyday in this class, even the first day when I was greeted with a handshake I was expected to bring myself and my thoughts to the table.